Illegal immigrant may be granted law license under new measure

Florida – A Mexican national who remains in the U.S. unlawfully may be able to obtain his law license under a new bill amended by the Florida Senate. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the new language of the bill allows the state Supreme Court to grant licenses to individuals who were brought to the country as a minor and have lived in the state for at least 10 years.

The state’s high court previously refused to issue a license to Jose Godinez-Samperio due to his illegal status. Godinez-Samperio had been brought to the U.S. by his parents at the age of 9 on a tourist visa and stayed after it had expired. He passed the bar in 2011, but was not allowed to be issued a license.

Godinez-Samperio is quoted by the AP as stating after the changes were made to the bill, “Today was a great day for justice, for fairness, for states* rights.”